When a routine park walk turned into an unexpected encounter with illegal wildlife trade, one quick-thinking couple stepped in to save 12 defenceless tortoises.
Gauteng, South Africa (27 August 2026) – What started as an ordinary walk through a park in Gauteng quickly turned into a wildlife rescue when 12 tortoises were discovered being offered for sale.
It all started when the Wildlife Crime Information Network (WCIN) received information via its hotline from a concerned member of the public reported that he had confiscated the tortoises from two men attempting to sell them to members of the public in a park in Fairland.
According to the man, he and his wife were taking a walk through a park when they noticed a group of people gathered together, immediately catching their attention.
As they approached, they discovered two men attempting to sell tortoises that had been placed inside boxes to people in the park. The man confronted the two individuals and informed them that what they were doing was illegal and that he was going to contact the Fairland Police. The two men then ran away, leaving the tortoises in the boxes behind. The man and his wife then took the 12 tortoises home.
WCIN says the man subsequently contacted them, reported the incident and sought assistance with the tortoises. WCIN liaised with law enforcement officials, providing them with the relevant information and photos of the tortoises.
The next morning, a law enforcement official went to the house in Fairland and met the couple who rescued the tortoises from the illegal wildlife trade.
The tortoises were handed over to the law enforcement official, who immediately took them to Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, where they are receiving the necessary nourishment and medical attention they urgently need.
“Unfortunately, most of the tortoises showed signs of long-term captivity, with all the conditions associated with it: MBD, arthritis, kidney and bladder stones, deformed shells and heart and liver problems. Two of the old angulates were terribly thin and only one captive leopard tortoise kept for a long time looked fairly well,” the WCIN team shared.
Related Stories
These Surprising Leopards of South Africa Also Deserve Some Love!
Dogs Found Safe But Hijacked Vehicle Still Missing – SPCA Still Needs Eyes and Ears! The tortoise rescue demonstrated how information provided by concerned citizens can help bring illegal wildlife activities to the attention of the relevant authorities and, most importantly, can help prevent vulnerable animals from ending up in the illegal wildlife trade.
“We urge the public not to support the wildlife trade in any form, as buying, removing, keeping or failing to follow legal procedures causes harm to wildlife and undermines conservation efforts,” the Wildlife Network said.
To help save wildlife and stop criminal activity, please report it to WCIN’s wildlife crime hotline by calling or sending a WhatsApp to 079 643 9556 or emailing [email protected] (all information provided will be treated as confidential).
Sources: Wildlife Crime Information Network
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:
Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 
